Page 131 of Irreversible

I frown. “Oh…well, I figured I’d move back into my house.”

She nods. “Right…right, of course. That’s a good plan.”

A sickly thought coils through me. “Are my things still there? My clothes? Personal items?” I hadn’t considered the notion that Jasper may have donated my things. Sold them. Discarded them. He thought I was dead, so I wouldn’t hold it against him. Still, my stomach pitches at the thought. “It’s okay if he did. I can start over.”

“No, no, he didn’t.” Her hand tightens on my fingers. “Everything’s in storage. Your mother wouldn’t let him get rid of anything. But…” She trails off, worries her lip between her teeth. “It was painful for him. Living in that house all alone, surrounded by your memory, your magic sprinkled into every room. It was…too much. I hope you understand.”

My throat burns. “I get it. We can all start over.” My eyes glaze over as I send her a melancholy smile. “Together.”

Pain coasts across her pretty face. Raw, physical pain. “Together,” she whispers back.

We spend the next hour catching up, starting over, telling stories, and weaving endings into new beginnings. For a moment, it feels like old times. Giggles break through. Tears of joy and belly laughter. She tells me about the three puppies she adopted, a bonded trio—Pepper, Jack, and Cheese. I scroll through images on her phone, a genuine smile brimming with life. It sticks.

This is what I missed.

This is what I craved.

And now I have a second chance.

It’s finally time to live the life I dreamed about for two painful years.

31

On the fourth day post-captivity, I’m woken by a stream of golden light. “Christ, make it stop.”

“Morning, sunshine.” The blinds lift all the way, blasting through my eyelids like fire.

“Mother of…fuck.”I pull the pillow from behind my head and throw it in the direction of the voice. Nine weeks and three days trapped in that windowless room have given me a new appreciation for sunlight, but?—

“Nice to see you, too, Luke. Chipper as always.”

I’m significantly less enthusiastic about Nurse Rebecca.

“It’s oh-stupid-thirty in the morning and I feel like I’ve been hit by a train,” I grumble. “My chipper is hibernating. Forever.”

“Mmhmm.” She moves away from the blinds and strides to the bed, prodding the tubing connected to my hand. My new torturer may wear pink scrubs and a smile, but I swear she still likes to make me suffer. “How are we feeling today?”

“Weare feeling like we’re trapped in a tiny room with an intrusive person who won’t leave us alone…”Why does this seem familiar?“Never mind. I’m going back to sleep.”I roll to my side—scratch that, Itry—but after doing an award-worthyimpression of a turtle stuck on its back, I lay there cursing, instead.

My caregiver stands over me, her expression lacking sympathy. “When you’re finished trying to rip your stitches open, take those.” She nods at the horse pills sitting next to a plate of scrambled eggs and fruit on the bedside tray. “And eat your breakfast.”

After more than sixty straight days of similar breakfasts delivered by the ogre, I don’t want to see another scrambled egg as long as I live. I’ve made this no secret. “You’re a sadist, Rebecca.”

“And you’re a ray of sunshine, Mr. Tanner.” After raising the bed to a sitting position, she breezes toward the exit, giving the man entering a long-suffering grimace. It quickly turns to a melting smile as he greets her with his dimples on display.

She’s got no idea she’s having heart palpitations over therealMr. Tanner.

I roll my eyes. “Your natural charm is nauseating.”

“It’s probably not a great idea to make the nurses hate you.” Tanner stops by the side of my bed, his leather briefcase in tow. “Just saying.”

“Technically, it’syouthe nurses hate.” I grin with a full show of teeth. “Andthatone is a monster; don’t let her fool you.”

“She’s actually very nice; you’re just a miserable patient. Now, I’d appreciate you not ruining my good name, thanks.”

“It’s like you’ve never met me.”

He raises an eyebrow.

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